Opponents to Georgia’s ‘campus carry’ gun bill appeal to Deal to block it

Feb. 27 2017 - Atlanta - Rep. Mandi L. Ballinger, R - Canton, presents her bill to the committee. With little fanfare, the House Public Safety and Homeland Security Committee approved what has become known as the “Campus Carry” bill. Rep. Mandi L. Ballinger, R - Canton, is the sponsor of HB 280, which allows anyone with a Georgia weapons permit to carry firearms onto most parts of public college and university campuses. BOB ANDRES /BANDRES@AJC.COM

The sponsor of House Bill 280, state Rep. Mandi Ballinger, R-Canton, has repeatedly made the argument that students have a right to protect themselves in a legal manner on campus just as they can off it. She said the bill only applies to students 21 years and older who receive permission to have a concealed carry permit in Georgia. To get the permit, they are required to be fingerprinted and pass a background check. The bill additionally exempts some areas from weapons, including dormitories, sorority and fraternity houses, athletic events and on-campus child care centers.

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution will again have Georgia’s largest team covering the Legislature. Get complete daily coverage during the legislative session at myAJC.com/georgialegislature. ... read more

But the New York-based Campaign to Keep Guns Off Campus in its letter argues that the Second Amendment has not historically protected carrying concealed weapons on campus. The group, which sent the letter privately to Deal earlier this month, also cited studies saying there is little data to show allowing concealed weapons makes students safer. And they reviewed efforts by both the state’s University System and Technical College System to increase campus security measures, something Deal called for last year.